Moving to the UK from the USA: Your Complete 2026 Guide
Everything US citizens need to move, work, study and settle in the UK: visas and the ETA, Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship, UK and US tax, healthcare, driving and the real cost of the move.
New in October 2026
Settling, citizenship and UK tax
The five-year Skilled Worker and partner routes, the 180-day absence rule, the £3,226 fee and where earned settlement stands.
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Naturalising after ILR, the faster route for spouses, citizenship by descent and keeping your US passport.
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UK residence and split year, the four-year FIG regime, the UK-US treaty and registering for Self Assessment.
Read guide →Essential guides
Guides for every stage of your move
Visas, the ETA, costs, healthcare, cultural differences and the path to settlement and citizenship.
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US licences cannot be exchanged. Drive on yours for 12 months, then pass the UK theory and practical tests.
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The Immigration Health Surcharge, registering with a GP, prescriptions, dentists and when private cover is worth it.
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The £20 Electronic Travel Authorisation: who needs one, how to apply, and the transit rules.
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Work, study, family and settlement routes: which visa fits your situation and where each one leads.
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The Skilled Worker visa at £41,700 or the going rate, Global Talent, High Potential Individual and more.
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The £29,000 income requirement, savings rules and the five-year route to settlement.
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Fees, the health surcharge, maintenance funds, work rights, and the Graduate visa dropping to 18 months from 2027.
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Visa fees, the health surcharge, shipping, flights and setting-up costs for a transatlantic move.
Read guide →US taxes in the UK
US tax obligations don’t stop at Heathrow
The US taxes by citizenship, not residence, so every American in the UK files with the IRS as well as dealing with HMRC. Our tax hub covers the whole picture.
IRS filing, FBAR and FATCA, the Foreign Tax Credit, deadlines, UK pensions, ISAs, property sales and the UK-US treaty.
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The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion versus the Foreign Tax Credit, employment income, pensions and ISAs.
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Which accounts count, what the $10,000 threshold means in practice, penalties, and catching up on missed filings.
Read guide →Visas & settlement
UK visa routes open to Americans
The main work route: £41,700 or the going rate, a graduate-level job and B2 English. Usually five years to ILR.
Read guide → WorkNo job offer needed for leaders in science, technology, the arts and academia. ILR can come after three years.
Read guide → WorkFor recent graduates of eligible top universities. No job offer needed while you look for work.
Read guide → FamilyJoin a British or settled partner. £29,000 minimum income and the right to work from day one.
Read guide → StudyFull-time study at a licensed UK institution, with limited work rights during term time.
Read guide → BusinessFor founders of an innovative UK business, with endorsement from an approved body.
Read guide → HealthcareLower fees and no Immigration Health Surcharge for eligible NHS and health roles.
Read guide → SettlementSettling permanently, usually after five years on most work and family routes.
Read guide → CitizenshipNaturalising after ILR, the Life in the UK test and what it costs.
Read guide →Before you go
Three things Americans often miss
You need an ETA to visit
Americans need a £20 Electronic Travel Authorisation for short visits, and airlines have checked for it before boarding since 25 February 2026. To live or work in the UK you need a visa instead.
Your US taxes do not stop
The US taxes citizens wherever they live, so you keep filing with the IRS as well as dealing with HMRC. The UK-US treaty and the Foreign Tax Credit usually prevent double tax.
Your US licence has a time limit
You can drive on a US licence for 12 months after becoming resident. It cannot be exchanged, so book the UK theory and practical tests early.
Frequently asked questions
What Americans ask before moving to the UK
Answers to the most common questions from US citizens planning a move.
Yes. US citizens can visit for up to six months without a visa, but to live, work or study in the UK you need a visa granted before you travel. The most common routes for Americans are the Skilled Worker, spouse or partner, Student, Global Talent and High Potential Individual visas.
Yes. Americans need an Electronic Travel Authorisation for short visits to the UK. It costs £20, is linked to your passport and usually lasts two years or until the passport expires. Since 25 February 2026 airlines check for an ETA or a visa before you board.
Usually five years on a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker or partner visa, and three years on some Global Talent and Innovator Founder routes. The government has proposed a 10-year baseline under ‘earned settlement’, but as of 19 October 2026 no new rules have been laid and the five-year routes still apply.
Yes. The UK and the US both allow dual nationality, so naturalising as a British citizen does not by itself end your US citizenship. You usually apply 12 months after ILR, or as soon as you have ILR if you are married to a British citizen. The fee is £1,709 plus a £130 ceremony fee.
Yes. The US taxes its citizens wherever they live, so you file a US return every year as well as dealing with UK tax. The Foreign Tax Credit and the UK-US tax treaty usually stop the same income being taxed twice, and you may also need to report UK accounts under FBAR and FATCA.
No. The US is not a designated country, so US licences cannot be exchanged. You can drive on your US licence for 12 months after becoming resident, and after that you need to pass the UK theory and practical tests.
Yes, once you are on a visa and have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is £1,035 a year for most adults. You can then register with a GP and use the NHS on the same basis as UK residents. Visitors are charged for most non-emergency hospital treatment.
No. The Youth Mobility Scheme is only open to nationals of countries that have an agreement with the UK, and the US is not one of them. Recent graduates of eligible universities can look at the High Potential Individual visa instead.